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I Chronicles 12.

21 And

sent him away, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. 20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh. they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host." 22 For from day to day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

a

60. DAVID'S VICTORY OVER THE AMALEKITES WHO HAD DESTROYED ZIKLAG.

I Samuel 30: 1-31.

I And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 and had taken captive the women and all that were therein, both small and great they slew not any, but carried them off, and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue for thou shalt surely overtake them, and shalt without fail recover all. 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred stayed behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor: 11 and they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink: 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins; and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights. 13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick. 14 We made a raid upon the South of the Cherethites, and upon that which belongeth to Judah, and upon the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. 15 And David said to him, Wilt thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this troop. 16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking, and feasting, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. 17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels and fled. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them; and David brought back all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil. 21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor: and a See $60, below. b Or, Shall I pursue."

c

Or," amidst."

I Samuel 30.

e

they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him and when David came near to the people, he 'saluted them. 22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. 23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given unto us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand. 24 And who will hearken unto you in this matter? for as his share is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall share alike. 25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, unto this day.

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26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; 27 to them which were in Beth-el, and to them which were in Ramoth of the South, and to them which were in Jattir; 28 and to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa; 29 and to them which were in Racal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites; 30 and to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Cor-ashan, and to them which were in Athach; 31 and to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

61. THE PHILISTINES PITCH IN SHUNEM: THE ISRAELITES IN

GILBOA.

1 Samuel 28:4.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem : and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

62. SAUL'S VISIT TO THE WITCH OF EN-DOR.
I Samuel 28:3, 5-25.

3 Now 9 Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. II Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid : for what seest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is a Or," with." "blessing."

come upon thee.'

bOr," asked them of their welfare." c Or, "base fellows." dl.e., "worthlessness." e Heb. According to many MSS. and versions, "Bor-ashan." gCf. 1 Samuel 25: 1a. See §53. h Or," guilt i Or, "gods."

1 Samuel 28.

covered with a robe. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 And Samuel said, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine adversary? 17 And the LORD hath wrought for himself, as he spake by me: and the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David. 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, and didst not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD shall deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. 20 Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath hearkened unto thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him ; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fatted calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 25 and she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

63. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL.
(1) THE BATTLE OF MOUNT GILBOA.

1 Samuel 31:1-13.

1 Chronicles 10:1-14.

I Now the Philistines fought against Israel: I Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Phi-and the men of Israel fled from before the listines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul 2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jon- and after his sons; and the Philistines slew athan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the | Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle went sore against sons of Saul. 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers. distressed by reason of the archers. 4 Then said 4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, thy sword, and thrust me through there- and thrust me through therewith; lest these unwith; lest these uncircumcised come and circumcised come and abuse me. But his arthrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same

mourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together. 7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they

a The Sept. has, "is on the side of thy neighbour." b Or, done unto him." unto thee." c Or, "wounded." dIn 1 Samuel 14:49, "Ishvi." See §18, (a).

Some ancient authorities read, "done eOr, "make a mock of me.'

I Samuel 31. day together. 7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were beyond Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto the house of their idols, and to the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of the Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. II And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

I Chronicles 10.

fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto their idols, and to the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. II And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby, 14 and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

(2) THE ACCIDENT TO MEPHIBOSHETH."
2 Samuel 4:4.

a

4 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

d

a Or," terebinth." b Or, "in." See §18, (2).

c Cf. 2 Samuel 9:1-13. See $96.

d In 1 Chronicles 8:34 and 9:40, Merib-baal.

BOOK THIRD.

THE REIGN OF DAVID.

PART I.

THE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS IN HEBRON.

I. David's Behavior on Hearing of Saul's Death.

64. THE NEWS OF SAUL'S DEATH IS BROUGHT TO DAVID.

2 Samuel 1:1-16.

I And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me, for anguish hath taken hold of me; because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them thither unto my lord. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

65. DAVID'S LAMENTATION FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN.
2 Samuel 1: 17-27.

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.

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